We’d recommend IGF to any other SME marketing services company that’s looking for an easy way to solve the headache of making sure your customers pay on time. 
Lauren Displays
Lauren Displays Ltd is a leading firm of screen and lithographic printers based in Aylesford, Kent. The company was formed in 1984 and began operations from a small 600 sq.ft unit near Maidstone in Kent, with just one handbench, two drying racks, a guillotine and very primitive stencil-making facilities. The first year surpassed all expectations during which time a second handbench was added to cope with demand. In 1985, under the guidance of managing director Tony Gray, Lauren Displays expanded into an adjoining unit and installed its first semi-automatic machine.
By 1997, Lauren Displays moved to its current premises of 42,500 sq.ft, in Aylesford, and the company had undergone a major expansion with investment in excess of £3.75 million, including:
- A four colour fully automatic Svecia SAM line with a print area of 2100 x 1600mm
- A two colour fully automatic high speed cylinder line (unique to Lauren Displays)
- A five colour B1 Heidelberg litho press
- Direct projection
- In-house finishing including two platens (max area 2100 x 1600mm)
- A complete upgrade of pre-press including a second in-line image setter
In its present form, the company now employs 110 staff and is committed to further growth. Clients include HMV, Unilever, Best Foods and Fuji, among other prestigious brand names.
A perfect partnership
Lauren Displays have been using IGF’s services for the past two and a half years and Tony Gray Managing Director of Lauren, describes the relationship with IGF as “very supportive”, so when the company needed assistance to invest in a major new piece of printing hardware, it was natural that they should turn to IGF.
IGF’s services are tailored specifically for the SME market and Lauren Displays elected to take advantage of this to ensure that it had access to a much more flexible source of financing than was being offered by the major banks or indeed other invoice finance companies.
Tony Gray explains:
“IGF, through its regional client manager, David Howard, has proved invaluable to us during the time we’ve worked together. IGF’s willingness to listen and support the changing needs of our company have really made a difference to the way we finance our business and has transformed the way we operate. In many ways we do not have a banking relationship anymore – IGF have filled that role for us perfectly. They are now the only source of funding for our business, and it’s a relationship that suits us down to the ground.”
“We have found that the difference with using Independent Growth Finance as opposed to a more traditional banking relationship is primarily about the way the relationship operates. IGF is more than a service provider; they are also a strategic partner for our business. As we grow, IGF has committed to partnering with us through that growth cycle, assisting with the changing needs of our business and the challenges we face.”
David Howard, Senior Client Manager at IGF, comments:
“Tony was looking at the finance options for the business to assist in the printer purchase – but without the cash flow constraints that traditional business finance can bring. Our facilities are clear, simple and straightforward, no matter how complex the deal and we were delighted to be able to assist.
”But it’s not just about providing a service to a client. We believe we can add value to businesses like Lauren Displays by striving to work in partnership with them, by spending time with the principals to uncover what makes the business tick. Indeed, we look forward to a mutually profitable partnership with Lauren Displays for many years to come.”